CLUBS | Club Buzz

More Evidence That Makes the Case for L.A.

A few months ago we went out on a hillbilly limb and declared that L.A. has the hottest club scene in the world. No reason to back down now. But it's not just the caliber of artists who have relocated to our fair city (Rancid Boys, At the Drive-In, Coyote Shivers, B.R.M.C., Rivers Cuomo of Weezer) but such local working stiffs as Texas Terri, Motochrist, Bluebird, Goatsnake, the Pleasure Seekers, Fireball Ministry, Czar, the Newlydeads and the Streetwalking Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs blew (what's left of) our brains out, man. We caught the local outfit blasting rabid fans with a rock 'n' roll speedball in the wee morning hours last Thursday at Goldfingers' Cadillac Club, which recently relocated from the Garage. . . . Speaking of the Garage, that's where the way-cool show promoter Tigermask is celebrating its fifth anniversary on March 25. Tigermask--which puts on occasional shows at the Eastside venue--also produces nutso live wrestling events and sizzling psychobilly acts. The company also is plotting the Las Vegas Shakedown, a three-day punk, blues and "rawk" festival at the Gold Coast Casino in August.

Save that March 25 date because it's also the evening Nashville Pussy blows into the Troubadour to nail our eardrums.

Saw Ace Freeley of KISS at the Gig in Hollywood on Sunday night. The freewheeling Freeley was in the house enjoying Glamnation, rocker Ryan Roxy's glam band that features that bang-up go-go gal, Ashleigh, who also dances at Cherry, Scream and Bang! . . . Bumped into that cool freaky rock scribe Jim Freek at a Gear Strippers show at Jumbo's Clown Room and he swore the Super Bees is the band du jour. So we got Ricky Vodka (Motochrist's guitarist and promoter of Cadillac Club and Tuesday's Dr. Wu at the Opium Den) to float us a copy of his self-produced "Dr. Wu Compilation: Vol. 2-000," which features a track by the busy Super Bees. Great balls of fire, that band does rule! The album smolders with 22 tracks of fierce rock 'n' roll.

Speaking of fierce rock 'n' rollers, we were so devastated by the death of Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell (who died of a brain aneurysm Feb. 29), we only recently got back on our feet. Please accept this eulogy, such as it is: Through beers and tears, for 20 years, you rocked our world and smashed our fears. When the angels sing, they sing for you. S.D.'s Mike Ness front man sang it best: No pain, no gain. With yet another rock 'n' roll scar, we soldier on.